Hawiian DT sets first two visits

Rick Kimbrel | Recruiting Analyst

One of the best defensive tackle prospects in the western region is Sealii Epenesa (6-2, 305, 5.4) from Honolulu (Hawai'i) Iolani. He has offers from the likes of UCLA, Oregon State, Washington, Colorado, and Texas Tech. All five schools have had success evaluating talent from the Aloha State.

Epenesa is noted for playing hard every down and never takes plays off. He is very dedicated to his team and that is one of the reasons he hasn't taken any visits yet. He has wanted to concentrate on his team and it looks like it has paid off as he is one of the reasons that Iolani (11-2) will be playing in its third consecutive state championship this Friday in Aloha Stadium against Lihue (Hawai'i) Kauai (10-0).

Now that the season is nearly over, he has begun to think more about his future and what school he may attend. He has set up two of his allotted visits in the month of January.

"I should be going to UCLA the second week of January," Epenesa said. "Then I think the following week I'll be heading to Oregon State.

"I'm going to be going on more trips," Epenesa said. "I just don't know when. I will probably visit Washington, Colorado and maybe Texas Tech, too."

One of Epenesa's wants in a college is that there would be family around to lesson any effects of homesickness.

Epenesa has plenty of family in the Los Angeles area, but that's not the only geographical place where he has family members.

"I actually have family in Seattle," Epenesa said. "I have family in Texas and New Mexico and that's close to Texas Tech. In Colorado, I don't have family, but I know some people who go there. I will probably just sign in February and not make any announcement."

Other than family there are a couple other things on his want list for a college.

"I want to go to a school where I will fit in," Epenesa said. "A school where I am comfortable. Where I like the coaching staff. The way they run their program."

Will weather be concern for the big defensive tackle from paradise?

"I don't think weather is going to be a concern," Epenesa said. "You just have to adapt."

Whoever lands Epenesa will be getting a football player who is a team first player and doesn't keep up with his personal stats.

"I don't know any of my stats," Epenesa said. "I just go out and play football."

Before the season, Epenesa had a bench of 275 and a squat of 400-pounds plus.

Epenesa earned first-team all-league and first-team all-state for his junior season performance. Look for him to repeat based on his senior season performance.